Analyzing the Hmong revolt of 1854-1873 in China

The Hmong have been in many conflicts in history and have been on the losing side more than not. Let us example one of these struggle so we can avoid repeating the suffering. The last great struggle that led to the Hmong diaspora is the revolt of 1855-1873 in China.



The two leaders of the revolt are great generals and great Hmong leader but the out come was beyond their control.

First Hmong culture is not militaristic. There is no standing army. This lack of an army means only a defensive conflict depending on the other party to give up. No matter how many victories are won, ultimately the other party live to fight again and again.

With a standing army, the Hmong could have reach out and stop any aggression before it began.

Lets exam two people with similiar situation as the Hmong: the Germans and Israelis.
The Germany as we know today did not exist before Fredrick the Great of Prussia. The Germans were divided into many states while at the same time surrounded by the great powers of Europe (Russia, French, & the Austria-Hungrian Empire).

With a standing army, the Germans became masters of the interior line of defense. It is basically the focusing of forces at only one enemy at a time. Fredrick used little Prussia to unite the German people and destroyed the Austria-Hungrian Empire.

The Israelis are surrounded by bigger and hostile neighbors who wish to put them in concentration camps. In the 6 day war of 1967, all the Arab states mobilized for one decisive blow to Israel. The Eqyptians had 100,000 in Sinai waiting for orders. The Syrians had 75,000 along the Israeli border. The Jordanians had 55,000 massed on the West Bank. Iraq had 100 tanks and a division near the Jordian border waiting for word to rush in.

Using the interior line of defense, Israel attacked the Egyptians before they could do anything. Once the Egyptians were defeated the rest of the Arab states fled. In 6 days the war was over and Israel survived.

During the revolt of 1855-1873, the Hmong were unable to bring the fight to the Manchus. It gave the Manchus time to prepare. In 1873, enough troops were mobilized and the Hmong revolt was stopped.

Israel and Germany showed us that numbers are not such a big factor. Numbers only matter when both sides are equal in training, weaponry, strategy, and leadership.